The auditor general’s office confirmed this week that it has received a detailed letter alleging misappropriation of funds by the National Association of People Living with Aids (Napwa), which receives millions each year from the Department of Health.

If we are to believe the opinion polls, the African National Congress will sweep to power with a two-thirds — or even a 70% — majority on April 14. How reliable are these surveys and what impact will these polls have on the undecided voter? Will they galvanise opposition supporters to cast their ballots and try and make sure that their parties are strengthened in the poll?

He did not kiss the babies. But President Thabo Mbeki tested kids’ toys, competed with them to count up to 100 and basically surrendered himself to the small, affluent community of the Bishops Court townhouse complex in Kempton Park. Some say this is not quite vintage Mbeki and more of an election strategy for a president concerned with his international stature.

In the run-up to the election, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini is making news — because of his decision to acquire another child bride. So very different from the gory days before the 1994 election when his name was invoked by the Inkatha Freedom Party to give credibility to its threat that it would raise an army if it was not granted concessions during strategic political negotiations.

The ballot papers have been printed and distributed around the country, where they are being kept in warehouses under the watchful eyes of armed security guards. ”By and large we are a little too early with some things,” says Norman du Plessis, the deputy chief electoral officer of the Independent Electoral Commission.

Europe’s demand for beef made 2003 one of the worst years ever for Amazonian deforestation, according to an international research report to be released. Last year satellite pictures showed that about 16 000 square kilometres of the world’s largest continuous forest was lost, a 40% increase on the 2002 figure.